Session 1
23 CFR 772: Type I Project
Definitions

Facilitator: Carole Newvine, Oregon DOT

Participants:
 Carole Newvine,
Oregon DOT
 Mariano Berrios,
Florida DOT
 Tom
Hanf, Michigan DOT
 Greg
Smith, North Carolina DOT
What are Type I Projects?
per FHWA Traffic Noise FAQs, May 2015
1. The construction of a highway on a new location
1
Type I Projects – continued
2. The physical alteration of an existing highway where
there is either:
a. Substantial Horizontal Alteration. A project that halves the distance
between the traffic noise source and the closest receptor, from the
existing condition to the future build condition, or;
2
Type I Projects – continued
b. Substantial Vertical Alteration. A project that removes shielding,
exposing the line-of-sight between receptor and traffic noise source - by
either altering the vertical alignment of the highway or by altering the
topography between the highway traffic noise source and the receptor
Increasing the Height of an Overcrossing
Multi-Use Path: Constructing a Gap in the Berm
I-205 & LRT
3
Type I Projects – continued
3. The addition of a through-traffic lane(s). This includes the addition of a
through-traffic lane that functions as a HOV lane, High-Occupancy Toll
(HOT) lane, bus lane, or truck climbing lane; or,
4. The addition of an auxiliary lane, except for when the auxiliary lane is a
turn lane; or,
5. The addition or relocation of interchange lanes or ramps added to a
quadrant to complete an existing partial interchange; or,
Proposed
On Ramp
Proposed
Off Ramp
4
Type I Projects – continued
6. Restriping existing pavement for the purpose of adding a through-traffic
lane or an auxiliary lane
7. The addition of a new or substantial alteration of a weigh station, rest stop,
ride-share lot or toll plaza.
Portland Ride-Share
If a project is determined to be a Type I project under this definition then the entire
project area as defined in the environmental document is a Type I.
5
Florida Department of
TRANSPORTATION
Type I Projects Definitions
CEE Noise Practitioners Summit 2015
October 21-22, 2015
Baltimore, MD
Mariano Berrios
Environmental Programs Coordinator
Florida Department of Transportation
Today’s Presentation
• What’s in 23 CFR 772?
• What’s in the FHWA guidance?
• Florida’s additional definitions for auxiliary
lanes and interchange ramps work
Florida Department of Transportation
What’s in 23 CFR 772?
Type I project
 (1) Construction of highways on new location
 (2) Physical alteration of existing highway – horizontal or vertical
• (3) The addition of a through-traffic lane(s). This includes the
addition of a through-traffic lane that functions as a HOV lane, HighOccupancy Toll (HOT) lane, bus lane, or truck climbing lane; or,
• (4) The addition of an auxiliary lane, except for when the auxiliary
lane is a turn lane; or,
• (5) The addition or relocation of interchange lanes or ramps added
to a quadrant to complete an existing partial interchange; or,
Florida Department of Transportation
What’s in 23 CFR 772?
Type I project
 (6) Restriping existing pavement to add additional through traffic
lanes or auxiliary lanes
 (7) Addition of a new or substantial alteration of weigh stations, rest
stops, ride share lots, or toll plazas
Florida Department of Transportation
What’s in the FHWA guidance?
FHWA Guidance for Type I Projects Involving Auxiliary Lanes:
• The addition of an auxiliary lane is a Type I project, unless the
auxiliary lane is a turn lane.
• Highway agencies should take a broad approach to defining turn
lanes when considering projects with auxiliary lanes.
• Consideration of auxiliary lanes on local roads should be limited to
those that could be used as a through lane (including bus or truck
climbing lanes) rather than lanes used for parking, speed change,
turning or storage for turning or weaving.
• For interstates, limit consideration to auxiliary lanes between two
closely spaced interchanges to accommodate weaving traffic and
auxiliary lanes carried through one or more interchanges.
Florida Department of Transportation
Auxiliary Lanes
Auxiliary Lanes:
Florida’s “Plans Preparation Manual” defines “auxiliary lanes” as:
“The designated widths of roadway pavement marked to
separate speed change, turning, passing and climbing maneuvers
from through traffic. They may also provide short capacity
segments.”
Wikipedia
A turn lane is set aside for slowing down and making a turn, so as
not to disrupt traffic. By removing turning traffic from the
through lanes, motorist safety is improved and delay is removed.
Florida Department of Transportation
Auxiliary Lanes
Sooo…. based on 23 CFR 772, addition of an auxiliary lane is Type I
project.
Based on the FDOT definition of auxiliary lane, the following could be
Type I projects:
• Acceleration lanes
• Deceleration lanes
• Turning lanes
• Two way left turn lanes
• Weaving lanes
• Passing lanes
• Truck climbing lanes (not many in Fl.)
• Operational lanes (extra lane between interchanges)
Florida Department of Transportation
Auxiliary Lanes
FHWA guidance:
Local roads – limit consideration to auxiliary lanes that could be used as through lanes
(including bus or truck lanes).
Argument: Define “auxiliary lanes that could be used as through lanes”.
Interstates (freeways and expressways?) – limit consideration to:
- auxiliary lanes between two closely spaced interchanges (to accommodate weaving) and - auxiliary lanes carried through one or more interchanges (operational lanes)
Argument:
- What is a closely spaced interchange? (See table in next slide)
- Other auxiliary lanes (other than lanes carried though one or more interchanges)
between “not” closely spaced interchanges. (Ex. Long acceleration lanes)
Florida Department of Transportation
Interchange Ramps
Interchange lanes and ramps
Not much guidance on what constitutes…
addition or relocation of interchange lanes
ramps added to a quadrant to complete an existing partial interchange
…other than the language in the rule.
Adding a lane – Are all lane additions considered adding capacity, therefore a Type I?
What constitutes a lane relocation? Distance relocated? New distance between outside of
lane and receptor (reduce by ½)?
Realignment of existing ramps – not addressed, how much realignment? Considered a lane
relocation?
Extension (lengthening) of existing acceleration lanes (max. length of acceleration lane?)
Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Specific Additions to Type I List
Based on discussions with the FHWA Florida Division and new online guidance from FHWA….
FDOT developed a Type I Projects Matrix to assist the FDOT Districts
in better identifying what projects are considered Type I projects
including clarification of unique situations that are not clear in the
rule or guidance.
Florida Department of Transportation
Matrix
Type 1
1
2
Construction of highway on new
location
New or relocated interchanges
3
Addition of new interchange
ramps (add a ramp where no
ramps existed). Viewed as a new
location.
4
Relocation of an interchange
ramp where the edge of the
outside lane on any segment of
the ramp reduces the distance to
the closest receptor by one-half.
(See #6 for realignment of ramps)
Florida Department of Transportation
Not Type 1
(No Noise Study Required)
Matrix
5
6
7
Increasing capacity to an existing on
or off interchange ramp (by adding
lanes) including associated merge
lanes. Viewed as a new location.
Lengthening an existing interchange
ramp’s acceleration or deceleration
lane and associated merging into
the mainline to a total of more than
2500 feet (from the gore to the end
of the lane), or re-aligning where
any segment of the ramp reduces
the distance to the closest receptor
by one-half.
Alteration of the horizontal
alignment of an existing highway
such that the edge of the outside
lane reduces the distance to the
closest receptor by one-half.
Florida Department of Transportation
Lengthening an existing interchange
ramp’s acceleration or deceleration lane
and associated merging into the mainline
(total length less than 2500 feet), or realigning where any segment of the ramp
reduces the distance to the closest
receptor by one-half.
Alteration of the horizontal alignment of
an existing highway such that the edge of
the outside lanes DOES NOT REDUCE the
distance to the closest receptor by onehalf.
Matrix
8
9
10
Alteration of the vertical alignment,
or the surrounding topography,
where existing shielding is removed
and the line of sight between the
noise source and the receptor is
now direct. (Activity does not
include removal of vegetation).
Addition of new through-lanes that
increase capacity to an existing
highway. (Noise analysis required on
both sides of the highway whether
the lanes are all in one direction or
both directions of travel.)
Restriping existing pavement to add
a through-lane or auxiliary lane (See
#13, #14 and #15 for auxiliary
lanes).
Florida Department of Transportation
Matrix
11
Addition of new or substantially
altered weight station, rest stop,
ride share lot or toll plaza.
12
Addition of ramps or new lanes
serving as climbing lanes for buses
and trucks.
13
Addition of auxiliary lanes used as a
through lanes on local roads.
Florida Department of Transportation
Matrix
14
Auxiliary lanes on freeways and
expressways connecting two or more
interchanges (continuous lanes
longer than 2500 feet from gore to
gore).
Auxiliary lanes on freeways and
expressways connecting two closely spaced
interchanges (less than 2500 feet from gore
to gore) to accommodate weaving traffic.
15
Turn lanes at intersections associated with
arterial highways
16
Bicycle and Pedestrian paths
17
Safety activities (23 USC 402)
18
Landscaping
Florida Department of Transportation
Matrix
19
Installation of fencing, signs, pavement
markings, small passenger shelters, traffic
signals, railroad warning signals (that don’t
disrupt traffic patterns)
20
Deployment of electronics, photonics,
communications, information processing to
improve safety and security
21
Re-surfacing, restoration, rehabilitation or
reconstruction of an existing facility (unless
there is a change in horizontal or vertical
alignment per 7 & 8 above).
22
Electronic toll collection facilities that do not
disrupt traffic patterns.
Florida Department of Transportation
Input?
Discussion?
Questions?
Florida Department of Transportation
Michigan DOT Experience
CEE Noise Practitioners’ Summit
Baltimore, Maryland
October 21-22, 2015
Tom Hanf
Michigan DOT
Park and Ride Lots
Substantial Vertical Alteration
Type I Project Definitions
Considerations
2 NC Projects for Consideration
CEE Noise Summit
Session 1
Baltimore, MD
October 21, 2015
Morrisville-Carpenter Road Safety Improvements
Power Substation
Mixed Residential
Commercial
228 Total Receptors
69 Existing Impacts
69 No-Build Impacts
2.0 dB(A) Average NL Increase
91 Build Impacts
3 dB(A) Maximum NL Increase
Morrisville-Carpenter Road Safety Improvements
Proposed Additional Lane
Morrisville-Carpenter Road Safety Improvements
Right Turn Only
Auxiliary Lane
Morrisville-Carpenter Road Safety Improvements
6
Feasible & Reasonable
Noise Walls
Morrisville-Carpenter Road Safety Improvements
•
•
Estimated Project Construction = $ 1,015,000
Estimated Total Wall Cost = $ 560,000 - $ 830,000
or
55 – 82 % of Construction Cost
Project Abandoned
I-40 Between Interchanges
• Approximately 4500 ft. Lane Between Interchange Ramps
To Provide Safer Weave Pattern
• Ends in Exit Ramp (Right Turn)
I-40 Between Interchanges
• Per FHWA Online FAQ, “an auxiliary lane should classify the
project as Type I if the auxiliary lane is 2,500 feet or longer”.
• Per 23 CFR 772, A Type I project is required with “the addition
of an auxiliary lane, except for when the auxiliary lane is a turn
lane”.
• Per FHWA Analysis & Abatement Guidance, “for interstates,
limit consideration to auxiliary lanes between two closely spaced
interchanges to accommodate weaving traffic and auxiliary lanes
carried through one or more interchanges”.
Type I Project?
Session 1 - Questions

Jordahl-Larson, MN: How to determine the “substantial
vertical alteration” without having to conduct a full noise
impact analysis?
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Guidance on existing barriers on Type I projects
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Tedford, CT: How are Type III Projects defined?

Runkle, IL: We get pushback from our districts wanting a
threshold length on the addition of a through-traffic lane
before it is considered Type I. Is IL unique in this?
Session 1 - Questions

Burgin, KY: Will any other project types be added to the
definition of Type I? (such as where traffic volumes and
speeds are especially light/slow)

Hanf, MI: Where do manage use lanes that are only
scheduled open during peak periods fit in the definition?
Auxiliary lanes, through-traffic lanes?

Burcham, MO: Under the topic “Issues when an entire
project is considered Type I if only part of it is Type I.”
increased project costs?
Session 1 - Questions

Moch, ND: NDDOT has included provision to in Noise
Policy Manual to exclude turn lanes or passing lanes that are
equal to or less than 2 miles long.
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Evans, NH: Should rumble strip installation projects be
added to Type I project definition. Of particular concern is
the installation of centerline rumble strips within passing
zones adjacent to residential neighborhoods. If included as
Type I, what procedures/methods are there for predicting
noise levels and determining impacts.

Dougherty, WV: Should raising the speed limit on an existing
FA highway be considered a Type 1 project?
Session 1 - Questions

Alcala, OH : Issues with the NEPA study area being the noise
study area

Shellenberger, PA: How to handle Type I projects that will only
be in place for a limited time until they are reconstructed and
will require another analysis. For example, we are restriping to
add a lane and mitigation is feasible and reasonable. In a year we
are doing a widening to the same roadway. Can we defer the
noise analysis or abatement until the second project is
completed?
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Polcak, MD: Avoidance of impacts via alignment shift, parapet,
etc. vs. analysis and implementation of abatement.